Africa's Most Secretive Big Cats | Leopards Of Dead Tree Island | Real Wild

[Music] deep in botswana's okavango delta lies an island it's a place of permanent water and rich grazing desirable territory for in its many look africa's most secretive big cats [Music] here three leopards are forced to share the same territory and live an increasingly uneasy coexistence they are drawn together by the shifting seasons leading to tension drama conflict and tragedy [Music] there's a way to make an entrance my destiny it was now a conspiracy of witches download veli today the undisputed ruler of this territory is the dominant male leopard buddha a five-year-old sturdy individual in the prime of his life moving in and out of buddha's domain is one of his females she specializes in climbing the tall ebony and kigalia trees of murami she is called mazwell the pale one tipa their three-year-old son walks a dangerous line within his parents territory according to leopard law he should have moved on by now to fend for himself but he's still around lingering between buddha and moswell can only lead to trouble he seems blissfully unaware of his predicament but it is moswayo's life that has undergone a dramatic change recently she has just given birth to two cubs and tipa poses a potential threat to them her litter emerges from her carefully concealed den she has fared well so far her two cubs were born in a bountiful summer leopards are solitary creatures and as a mother mozweya relies on all her skills to raise her cubs in general leopard cub survival rate is below 50 percent the majority of losses happen during the cubs first year of life while the leopard mother leaves to hunt it's a harsh reality that leopards have to contend with every time they give birth moswell has no choice but to leave her cubs to find food from her last litter tipa is the only survivor he's an adolescent he still lingers near the den site familiar with his birthplace frequenting the paths of his youth up to now masueo has tolerated his presence in her territory but the time has come for him to move on oswego is on the war path she walks with purpose her tail held high the time has come for her to sever the bonds between them forever marks her territory near his tree the hostility towards her son is plain to see their relationship has degenerated into open conflict tipa still bears the wounds from an earlier clash even though he is now bigger than his mother as her son tipa remains relatively submissive reluctantly he leaves the area but unwisely he'll continue to linger on the edge of his mother's territory as he moves into a neighboring woodland he stumbles on a mortal enemy the lion scent carries and he's alerted he needs to be careful his first few days in unfamiliar territory are dangerous and he's extremely vulnerable lions are the leopard's biggest threat not only would they kill cubs but they tear tipa lim from limb he has to skirt around them silently with the threat to her cubs dealt with mosueo can now concentrate on the one thing she does best hunting she's an excellent climber she likes a good vantage point seven or eight meters above the ground [Music] [Music] the leopard is the only big cat that uses gravity to hunt [Music] is an expert at it this technique is quick quiet and efficient [Music] but the impala alarm calls are a dead giveaway that a predator is operating in the forest the hyenas have heard the commotion she needs to hide the kill before they see her they hunt in packs they're strong and aggressive worse they are the number one killer of leopard cubs she cannot let them find her den in a risky move she fetches the cubs and leads them back to feed using the secret pathways she knows so well with such small cubs she cannot move the carcass into the safety of a tree since they cannot climb down on the ground they are all exposed to danger staying well hidden is their only option this is the realm of the leopard camouflaged in the broken and dappled scrub they can feed undisturbed for a while god but the hyenas can smell the kill [Music] the circle around the scent tightens osweo has to act quickly and decisively she has a plan get the hyenas to focus on her and draw them far away enough for the cubs to leave the kill [Music] leopards constantly walk a fine line between safety and danger as solitary cats they have struck a perfect balance but for a mother this balance can mean sacrifice let the hyenas have their prize for the powerful buddha life's a little different he has doubled the weight of mosueo he's much stronger and much more confident but in the wet season he has a worthy adversary baboons are strong and intelligent to omnivores and the troops are led by several big dominant males [Music] a marked characteristic of the species sometimes they direct their collective aggression towards predators [Music] their incessant barks stir buddha from his rest challenging him [Music] arrogant in their approach the troop moves noisily through the forest at first buddha slinks away from the taunting crowd [Music] but the provocation becomes too much and he retaliates [Music] [Music] he confirms his hold as lord of this territory and then leaves [Music] dead tree island changes radically with the seasons it's one of the few places with permanent drinking water but in summer its herbivores rely on the reins for good crazy [Music] the effects of these storms are felt across the ocavango and beyond [Music] the result is a welcome flourish of green [Music] fresh leaves grasses and shoots sprout and animals leave the forest and spread out into the surrounding floodplains this abundance of water and food brings on the birthing season for impala one of the leopard's favorite prey it happens during a time guaranteed to supply the best in nourishment and protection minimizing the stress on the young their mothers and the herd but the newborn impalas are highly vulnerable and face a variety of threats the african rock python is another of dead tree islands expert hunters muscular coils squeeze the life from its prey asphyxiating it it swallows the calf whole by extending its jaws using specialized hinges [Music] the wandering impala herds provide a reliable source of food boswell has killed one during the night and has hidden the fresh carcass in a thicket where she feeds quickly to make this kill she's had to leave her young alone and vulnerable now she needs to get back to the den as most whale approaches the den she senses danger hyenas have been busy nearby her gentle calls are low and don't carry far meant only for the ears of her cubs only one responds [Music] um [Music] the nightmare of all mothers now falls on mosueo her calls seem desperate and at the same time hopeful her own flesh and blood has been taken from her in just one night [Music] she has no option but to move on in a leopard's life there is no time to mourn the dead the cub is growing and it needs meat in its diet the well-being of this lone cub now hinges on marswayo's intimate knowledge of this area of the ocavango the rains have stopped and all around dead tree island the vegetation is beginning to brown the animals sense this seasons determine behavioral patterns and each species responds differently kudu males choose a suitable female courting her with gallant displays tipa lurks in the undergrowth he strayed back into his original territory the kudu are distracted and oblivious to any threat [Music] [Music] but teeper's lack of experience is plain to see perhaps he's still too young to realize he shouldn't expend energy on the unattainable prey the size of a kudu is out of his league flocks of quelias announced the onset of winter the dry season [Music] many animals gravitate to the dead tree island area for the permanent water this harsher season allows for at least one miracle the kigelia tree blossoms to life it offers a precious winter treasure flowers filled with nectar baboons drink from the crimson chalice [Music] tipa needs to be more flexible in his hunting strategy he has to learn to anticipate his potential praise movements baboons are messy eaters and soon the impala moves closer to feed on the flowers that carpet the ground he silently watches and waits he needs the impala to come to him the marauding baboon troop has singled out his tree he's not as powerful as buddha they will not tolerate tipa's presence if they catch him they'll try to kill him he cannot risk a confrontation an injury may cost him dearly [Music] moswayo watches from a safe distance keeping track of the conflict she follows tipa's prey now quietly she begins her own hunt [Music] she finds a tree ahead of the herd hoping that the flowers will draw the impalas beneath her shows great patience she watches the antelope's moves and identifies her target this time her signature high dive is off the mark [Music] with her cover blown the impalas keep a watch on her [Music] our annoyance is obvious so much energy wasted for nothing [Music] but she has to keep moving she's out in the open and the baboons are still in the area but things only get worse the impala alarms have alerted the lions moswayo is forced to play a game of cat and mouse to get back to her den without giving his position away tipa's reluctance to stay away from his mother's territory is causing chaos his blundering kill attempts have multiplied the pressure on her she is relieved to find her cub safe and well she decides to move to a new den site the lions were far too close for comfort her remaining cub now five months old is showing her character she loves playing with her mother's tail it's a good test of reflexes [Music] hidden in the dry grass mosswayo rests regaining her strength before she starts hunting again for the moment all is well with mother and cub they're secure in the new den winter forces the elephants in from the surrounding desert [Music] lechway gather here too water is their ally in these last pools they are safe from most predators they're larger than impalas but a big cat like buddha should be able to pull them down [Music] do so the letchway turn and watch their attacker they take in his smell burning it into their brains for future reference making sure buddha leaves the area within this changing season moswayo needs to move greater distances passing the open floodplains to find the cover that she needs to hunt she's following the movements of her prey but so are the other predators relocation for a leopard is always risky but she soon finds a tree in an area that she likes from this vantage point she can see the breeding herds of elephants steadily moving into the delta it's october now and the heat is intense the floods that brought life to the region have almost all evaporated now [Music] dead tree island draws the inhabitants of the ocavango closer to the last remaining water [Music] the last flooded pans now hold the fate of all these characters [Music] they're drawn together in one group and the paths of the predators cross dangerously close [Music] so tipa is the first victim of this heightened competition he's finally killed an impala but doesn't get to enjoy the fruits of his labor stooping to petty theft the lions that have haunted his movements now steal his food tipa stares hungrily as the big male eats the ill-gotten gains the lion eats the bulk of the impala and leaves carefully tipa moves to reclaim his kill so finally he can enjoy what remains in peace mosueo's cub is now at an age where she begins to explore further it's high time she learned how to climb [Music] a little unsure of herself she attempts to reach some babblers she's small and still vulnerable even more so now that she's curious and able to venture out of hiding especially when her mother's not around [Music] is far off hunting she doesn't often come to this part of the island and she leaves her mark to enforce her presence [Music] she moves onto an open plane where two side-striped jackal are foraging in this season of hardship mosueo takes advantage of any opportunity that presents itself [Music] although not normally a prey item the jackals quickly become a target but the side striped jackal is no fool and has an impressive turn of speed irritated with her failure she leaves her mark and moves on the jackals barks are echoed by vervet monkeys chattering in the distance these alarm calls alert they are coming from the direction of the den uh as she moves closer to the place pinpointed by the monkeys she starts searching but what she finds is shocking [Music] her cub has its back leg caught in a tree and its pelvis has been broken [Music] nothing she tries can help her last remaining cub [Music] no gentle nudge no affectionate encouragement perhaps an invitation to a last game [Music] uh um [Music] so so hmm [Music] her voice is almost bleeding the last attempt and the cops leg is free [Music] so [Music] there is no more that mosswayo can do with all her remaining strength the cub pulls herself to her final resting place but her mother has already decided to leave this traumatic scene behind seems to try to rub away her sense of loss is this the way a leopard mourns the heat builds the rains are coming buddha treads on new ground he is following an interesting scent one that he cannot help but find irresistible [Music] it comes from this leopard a new female has entered his territory [Music] she is larger and stronger than moswell and she brings the promise of fresh jeans to dead tree island [Music] on the fringes moswear watches with alarm [Music] buddha's senses trigger an uncontrollable need to cloak himself in the new female scent hers is not any smell it is the perfume of a female in easteros moswell follows his footsteps his calls are low and clear but she knows he's not calling her what she smells is not appealing the scent of another female a rival instinctively mazwell tries to mask any hint of her challenger's presence but she's too late buddha is already responding laying a path of enticement the new female is quick to take up his invitation [Music] moswayo retreats her efforts are futile [Music] [Music] the rival has found her prize she makes contact with buddha leaves the place where she gave birth perhaps to seek out another territory and a new partner [Music] the dry winter finally breaks [Music] and the change in season coaxes buddha to mate so um a new era begins for the leopards of dead tree island they mate for days and by the end of it the new female will hold the seed of new cubs and so tragedy gives way to hope and the way of the wild shows its warmer side buddha is content that his job is done and with the onset of another fruitful season the legacy of dead tree island's leopards is secure you

Channel: Real Wild

Views: 1,031,402

Keywords: full documentary, wildlife documentary, wild animal, real wild, animal documentary, animals, leopard documentary, nature documentary, african wildlife, national geographic, apex predators, wildlife predators, nat geo wild, wildlife documentary 2022, wild animal attacks in africa, dead tree island, leopards of dead tree island, leopards in the wild, saving leopards, leopard, leopard vs lion, lion documentary, big cat, south africa

Id: UCZa9R7XMX4

Length: 50min 37sec (3037 seconds)

Published: Sat Sep 03 2022